U.S. Marine officials confirm F-35 aircraft mishap in California: media
LOS ANGELES, July 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Marine officials confirmed on Friday that emergency personnel were responding to an F-35B fighter jet crash near Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San Diego, California, according to local media reports.
The incident occurred at around 10 a.m. local time. The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered, authorities said.
"We can confirm a mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity of MCAS Miramar," a base spokesperson said in a statement. "The pilot ejected, was recovered, and is enroute to a medical facility."
The jet was assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 11, according to media reports.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The F-35B is the U.S. Marine Corps' short takeoff and vertical landing fighter jet.
MCAS Miramar is a major U.S. military air base, where about 15,000 service members from all branches of the U.S. military are based, CNN reported. ■
